Gangbuk District Reduces Household Waste by 7.3%... Steps Up Response to Direct Landfill Ban

On May 22, Gangbuk District in Seoul announced that an analysis of household waste reduction in the first quarter of this year showed a 7.3% decrease in the amount of waste incinerated or landfilled compared to the same period last year. This represents a daily average reduction of 5.2 tons, totaling 532 tons, and is a tangible result of the district's efforts to comply with the policy prohibiting direct landfilling at the metropolitan landfill site.

Exterior view of Gangbuk District Office. Provided by Gangbuk District Office.

Of the annual household waste intake quota of 24,578 tons for this year, Gangbuk District brought in 6,012 tons in the first quarter, which is less than the quarterly target of 6,145 tons, stably achieving the target intake rate of 25% or less (24.5%). Notably, the amount of waste directly landfilled in the first quarter was recorded as "0 tons," marking significant progress toward the practical implementation of the direct landfill ban policy.

This achievement is attributed to a range of policies, including enhanced promotion of waste separation, expanded inspections of waste-generating businesses, and encouragement of on-site waste processing. The district plans to continue implementing various policies to reduce household waste in the second half of the year as well.

In June, Gangbuk District will introduce a pilot incentive program to increase the recycling rate of waste vinyl, encouraging greater participation in recycling. The district will also launch a full-scale waste reduction campaign using digital media such as social networking services (SNS), YouTube, and the district office website. In addition, a comprehensive survey will be conducted on businesses that discharge industrial waste without reporting, and administrative guidance will be provided to establishments such as medical institutions that are capable of processing their own waste.

Gangbuk District stated, "We have been making every effort to reduce household waste since the beginning of the year in order to thoroughly prepare for the full implementation of the direct landfill ban at the metropolitan landfill site starting next year," and added, "We ask for the continued active cooperation of residents in practicing waste separation in the future."